DECEMBER GARDEN DIARY

The national lock down may have ended this week, but I've been in gardening lockdown the last few days.  We did have a bright sunny day mid week, but due to a bitter wind I passed on gardening activity on the grounds that it was too cold.  In hindsight this was a mistake.


1. The Pretty Picture

I have only one pretty picture for you this week, it's of white cyclamen in a planter by the back door, where I get to see it whatever the weather.  I'm starting with that, so as to give you the opportunity to enjoy it before skipping off if you wish to. 



2 The Ruddy Weather

The day that was too cold to garden, was followed by the day it was too wet, followed by the day it was too cold and too wet.  Here sleet drifts across the Rose Garden.


Thank goodness there were a few jobs to be done under cover.

3. Bare Root Hostas

These arrived last weekend and I escaped into the potting shed to get them in some pots.  It kept me out of the light drizzle.


4 Heleniums

Arriving in the same Parkers order, were these Heleium Chelsey. They are destined to replace some in the long border which have dwindled away over the last few years.


These are they in the packaging they arrived in. Just look at all those lovely roots.


5 Dahlia Tubers

I managed to lift some of the tubers before I retreated indoors.  They are drying out for a few days in the greenhouse.



6.  Favourite Gardening Gear

Over the winter months I thought I would pad out include a few posts on my favourite gardening gear.  This week it's my gloves.  I have had fancy gloves in the past, but these are the ones I find most comfortable.  They are the Wilkos seed and weed gloves (£3 for three pairs).  The fronts are waterproof, but very flexible.  Underneath them I wear a pair of knitted gloves to keep my hands warm.



That's all from my garden this week (sighs of relief all round).  Do check out the other gardeners on The Propagator who hosts Six on Saturday.

Comments

  1. Nothing like a decent pair of gardening gloves. Mine are caked in mud and need a good wash! You made a mistake, you actually have two pretty pictures, as I find the photo of the rose garden in the sleet quite charming. I agree that those Helenium roots look fabulous!

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    1. For reasons I can't quite put my finger on now, I took a photo of a pair that I hadn't worn yet. My actual gloves are reassuringly grubby.

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  2. Gloves in winter… That's an interesting subject! This morning, I was still cold in mine…
    We would have to find something warm, comfortable, flexible to remove weeds, which don't pierce, and which could possibly be washed easily… impossible mission, isnt' it !

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    1. These do all of that for me, except for real thorny jobs where I would wear some proper leather ones. You can't get those damp though as they dry rock hard don't they?

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  3. The white cyclamen by the door is a great idea. As for weather, it is tricky as before you know it, the conditions worsen, and you wish you had done more earlier.....

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    1. Indeed. Thankfully nicer weather this morning so I got out while the going was good.

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  4. I bought a very similar Cyclamen a few weeks back for the scent more than anything. I sniffed dozens of them to find the best one. Very uplifting, is a nice perfume.

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    1. Thanks for the comment Jim. I'm going Cyclamen sniffing ...

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  5. I think you've had it colder up there than where I am judging by that sleet. Nice that you had a few potting jobs and I agree those helenium roots look fabulous. They should grow away well next year.

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    1. Yes - definitely turned properly cold here. I had to put the heating on during the day! (Not something I have to do very often).

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  6. Gloves have been on my mind this past week also as it has been so very cold here and especially so when cutting down old herbaceous plants. I opt for a light glove with a larger waterproof glove outside. Staying dry seems most important to me to prevent the fingers getting too cold.

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    1. That sounds like a good glove combination. Some tough waterproof ones would be a useful thing to have.

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  7. I was briefly in the garden this week, but also took shelter in the greenhouse. I’ve only ventured back out to fleece my greenhouse pelargoniums - and rushed back indoors to warm up frozen toes. You’re allowed to pass on gardening days in December! And January & February too. Lol

    Your cyclamen is lovely, and I didn’t know you could buy bare root hostas. I live & learn! The Helenium roots look very healthy. (I had two peony tubers arrive this afternoon - that’s keeping me happy).

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    1. It's quite tempting to retreat indoors and hibernate til the Spring.

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  8. That compost with the potted up helenium looks rather nice and the white cyclamen is very pretty. I can never find my gardening gloves when I want them!

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    1. I have multiple pairs on the go, but then I wear gloves all the time when I'm gardening.

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  9. Think I should put new gardening gloves on why list to Santa...

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    1. Santa always gets a long wish list from me - new secateurs, planters, books, garden centre vouchers, seeds would all be very welcome.

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